JEDDAH — The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) was able to free a groom who was apparently held captive by a famous hotel in Jeddah after a row with receptionists. The Saudi groom, in his 30s, was spending his honeymoon with his bride in the hotel. Reporting the incident on Wednesday, Makkah newspaper did not identify the young Saudi man but said the video filmed his heated dispute with the hotel receptionists. The groom accused a hotel worker of messing with his car and stealing some of its contents. He filmed the theft but the receptionists would not accept his accusations. He claimed the receptionists then called hotel security, who tied him up and locked him in a room. The groom was able to use Twitter to contact the SCTA, which sent a representative. The commission's official was able to free the man after an hour in captivity. The hotel management refuted the claims made by the groom but did not deny locking him up. Ali Al-Awaji, director of the SCTA in Makkah, said the commission is currently investigating the incident. He said the SCTA rejects “harassment or brutality of hotels and furnished apartments against their guests”.
